2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Master’s Degree Schools
[Natural Resources & Conservation](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 118 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for natural resources & conservation students.
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2027 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in natural resources & conservation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Leading the list is California State University Fullerton, our #1 best value for natural resources & conservation in the United States. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $15,525. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $62,270. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $16,563 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $54,615. Set against $16,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,226 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $49,427. That is a strong return on a $17,226 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida International University earned it the #4 place for natural resources & conservation. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,349. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $36,007. That is a strong return on a $19,349 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $12,044. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $60,165 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #6 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $16,577 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $59,248 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,577 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida earned the #7 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $37,214. Set against $19,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
American Public University System landed the #8 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $16,709 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $63,243. That is a strong return on a $16,709 median debt.
Stanford University earned the #9 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,910. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $10,492. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley earned the #10 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $12,988 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $61,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Kentucky State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the town of Frankfort, Kentucky State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,387, while out-of-state students pay about $13,578. Students borrow a median of $29,774 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Kentucky State University earn a median of $28,497 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Springfield earned the #12 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, natural resources & conservation degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $57,079. Set against $24,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of The Virgin Islands earned the #13 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Located in the rural area of Charlotte Amalie, University Of The Virgin Islands is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,957 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,557. Students borrow a median of $20,300 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $49,734. That is a strong return on a $20,300 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University earned the #14 position for value in natural resources & conservation this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Irvine landed the #15 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,752, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $12,477 in student loans. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $36,304 early in their careers. Set against $12,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 29% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Denver came in at #16 for value in natural resources & conservation this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $26,582. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $52,302 early in their careers. Set against $26,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #17 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $24,250. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $26,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Humboldt State University placed #18 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Humboldt State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Arcata. In-state tuition and fees average $8,397, compared with $20,997 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $20,859. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $54,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Humboldt State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #19 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,315 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $42,437 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,315 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $15,218 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $38,787. That is a strong return on a $15,218 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. Set in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, compared with $25,746 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $25,531. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $44,510. Set against $25,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia landed the #22 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $22,646 to complete the natural resources & conservation program here. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $45,913. That is a strong return on a $22,646 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #23 spot for natural resources & conservation value this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $31,369. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #24 among the best values for natural resources & conservation. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for natural resources & conservation graduates is $19,699. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $41,152. That is a strong return on a $19,699 median debt. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value natural resources & conservation schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Natural Resources & Conservation graduates carry a median of $17,184 in student loans. Early-career natural resources & conservation graduates make about $49,651. That is a strong return on a $17,184 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Natural Resources & Conservation Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in natural resources & conservation:
Other Natural Resources & Conservation Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Natural Resources & Conservation rankings across degree levels:
View All Natural Resources & Conservation Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 118 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 118 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
